M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
The Altar
27 “You are to make the[a] altar of acacia wood, 7½ feet long,[b] and 7½ feet wide; the altar is to be square,[c] and its height is to be 4½ feet[d] . 2 You are to make its four horns[e] on its four corners; its horns will be part of it,[f] and you are to overlay it with bronze. 3 You are to make its pots for the ashes,[g] its shovels, its tossing bowls,[h] its meat hooks, and its fire pans—you are to make all[i] its utensils of bronze. 4 You are to make a grating[j] for it, a network of bronze, and you are to make on the network four bronze rings on its four corners. 5 You are to put it under the ledge of the altar below, so that the network will come[k] halfway up the altar.[l] 6 You are to make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you are to overlay them with bronze. 7 The poles are to be put[m] into the rings so that the poles will be on two sides of the altar when carrying it.[n] 8 You are to make the altar hollow, out of boards. Just as it was shown you[o] on the mountain, so they must make it.[p]
The Courtyard
9 “You are to make the courtyard[q] of the tabernacle. For the south side[r] there are to be hangings[s] for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, 150 feet long for one side,[t] 10 with[u] twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver. 11 Likewise[v] for its length on the north side, there are to be[w] hangings for 150 feet, with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands[x] on the posts. 12 The width of the court on the west side is to be 75 feet with hangings, with their ten posts and their ten bases. 13 The width of the court on the east side, toward the sunrise, is to be 75 feet. 14 The hangings on one side[y] of the gate are to be[z] 22½ feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. 15 On the second side[aa] there are to be[ab] hangings 22½ feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. 16 For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a curtain of 30 feet, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four posts and their four bases. 17 All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands;[ac] their hooks are to be[ad] silver, and their bases bronze. 18 The length of the courtyard is to be 150 feet[ae] and the width 75 feet,[af] and the height of the fine twisted linen hangings[ag] is to be[ah] 7½ feet, with their bronze bases. 19 All[ai] the utensils of the tabernacle used[aj] in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze.[ak]
Offering the Oil
20 “You are to command the Israelites that they bring[al] to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, so that the lamps[am] will burn[an] regularly.[ao] 21 In the tent of meeting[ap] outside the curtain that is before the testimony,[aq] Aaron and his sons are to arrange it from evening[ar] to morning before the Lord. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come.[as]
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
6 After this[a] Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias).[b] 2 A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick. 3 So Jesus went on up the mountainside[c] and sat down there with his disciples. 4 (Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover[d] was near.)[e] 5 Then Jesus, when he looked up[f] and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6 (Now Jesus[g] said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.)[h] 7 Philip replied,[i] “200 silver coins worth[j] of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.” 8 One of Jesus’ disciples,[k] Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good[l] are these for so many people?”
10 Jesus said, “Have[m] the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.)[n] So the men[o] sat down, about 5,000 in number. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish,[p] as much as they wanted. 12 When they were all satisfied, Jesus[q] said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves[r] left over by the people who had eaten.
14 Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus[s] performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet[t] who is to come into the world.”[u] 15 Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.[v]
Walking on Water
16 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,[w] 17 got into a boat,[x] and started to cross the lake[y] to Capernaum.[z] (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.)[aa] 18 By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough. 19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles,[ab] they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake,[ac] approaching the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading.
22 The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake[ad] realized that only one small boat[ae] had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded[af] it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came to shore[ag] near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.[ah] 24 So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats[ai] and came to Capernaum[aj] looking for Jesus.
Jesus’ Discourse About the Bread of Life
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake,[ak] they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”[al] 26 Jesus replied,[am] “I tell you the solemn truth,[an] you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.[ao] 27 Do not work for the food that disappears,[ap] but for the food that remains to eternal life—the food[aq] which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”[ar]
28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds[as] God requires?”[at] 29 Jesus replied,[au] “This is the deed[av] God requires[aw]—to believe in the one whom he[ax] sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors[ay] ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”[az]
32 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the solemn truth,[ba] it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who[bb] comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 So they said to him, “Sir,[bc] give us this bread all the time!”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.[bd] 36 But I told you[be] that you have seen me[bf] and still do not believe. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.[bg] 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up[bh] at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father—for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up[bi] at the last day.”[bj]
41 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus[bk] began complaining about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 42 and they said, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus replied,[bl] “Do not complain about me to one another.[bm] 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,[bn] and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’[bo] Everyone who hears and learns from the Father[bp] comes to me. 46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God—he[bq] has seen the Father.)[br] 47 I tell you the solemn truth,[bs] the one who believes[bt] has eternal life.[bu] 48 I am the bread of life.[bv] 49 Your ancestors[bw] ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This[bx] is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person[by] may eat from it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread[bz] that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
52 Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus[ca] began to argue with one another,[cb] “How can this man[cc] give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth,[cd] unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,[ce] you have no life[cf] in yourselves. 54 The one who eats[cg] my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.[ch] 55 For my flesh is true[ci] food, and my blood is true[cj] drink. 56 The one who eats[ck] my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him.[cl] 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes[cm] me will live because of me. 58 This[cn] is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors[co] ate, but then later died.[cp] The one who eats[cq] this bread will live forever.”
Many Followers Depart
59 Jesus[cr] said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue[cs] in Capernaum.[ct] 60 Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things,[cu] said, “This is a difficult[cv] saying![cw] Who can understand it?”[cx] 61 When Jesus was aware[cy] that his disciples were complaining[cz] about this, he said to them, “Does this cause you to be offended?[da] 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?[db] 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help![dc] The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.[dd] 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)[de] 65 So Jesus added,[df] “Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.”[dg]
Peter’s Confession
66 After this many of his disciples quit following him[dh] and did not accompany him[di] any longer. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”[dj] 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We[dk] have come to believe and to know[dl] that you are the Holy One of God!”[dm] 70 Jesus replied,[dn] “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?”[do] 71 (Now he said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot,[dp] for Judas,[dq] one of the twelve, was going to betray him.)[dr]
Exhortations to Seek Wisdom and Walk with the Lord[a]
3 My child,[b] do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep[c] my commandments,
2 for they will provide[d] a long and full life,[e]
and well-being[f] for you.
3 Do not let mercy and truth[g] leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.[h]
4 Then you will find[i] favor and good understanding,[j]
in the sight of God and people.[k]
5 Trust[l] in the Lord with all your heart,[m]
and do not rely[n] on your own understanding.[o]
6 Acknowledge[p] him in all your ways,[q]
and he will make your paths straight.[r]
7 Do not be wise in your own estimation;[s]
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.[t]
8 This will bring[u] healing to your body,[v]
and refreshment[w] to your inner self.[x]
9 Honor[y] the Lord from your wealth
and from the firstfruits of all your crops;[z]
10 then your barns will be filled completely,[aa]
and your vats[ab] will overflow[ac] with new wine.[ad]
11 My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord,[ae]
and do not loathe[af] his rebuke.
12 For the Lord disciplines[ag] those he loves,
just as a father[ah] disciplines[ai] the son in whom he delights.
Blessings of Obtaining Wisdom
13 Blessed[aj] is the one[ak] who has found[al] wisdom,
and the one who obtains[am] understanding.
14 For her[an] benefit[ao] is more profitable[ap] than silver,
and her[aq] gain[ar] is better[as] than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies,
and none of the things you desire can compare[at] with her.[au]
16 Long life[av] is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are very pleasant,[aw]
and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is like[ax] a tree of life[ay] to those who grasp onto her,
and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.[az]
19 By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth;[ba]
he established the heavens by understanding.[bb]
20 By his knowledge the primordial sea[bc] was broken open,[bd]
so that the clouds drip down dew.[be]
21 My child, do not let them[bf] escape from your sight;
safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.[bg]
22 So they will become life for your soul,[bh]
and grace around your neck.[bi]
23 Then you will walk on your way with security,
and you will not stumble.[bj]
24 When[bk] you lie down[bl] you will not be filled with fear;[bm]
when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.[bn]
25 Do not be afraid[bo] of sudden[bp] disaster,[bq]
or when destruction overtakes the wicked;[br]
26 for the Lord will be the source of your confidence,[bs]
and he will guard your foot[bt] from being caught in a trap.[bu]
Wisdom Demonstrated in Relationships with People
27 Do not withhold good from those who need it,[bv]
when you[bw] have the ability[bx] to help.[by]
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow
and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time.[bz]
29 Do not plot[ca] evil against your neighbor
when[cb] he dwells by you unsuspectingly.
30 Do not accuse[cc] anyone[cd] without legitimate cause,[ce]
if he has not treated you wrongly.
31 Do not envy a violent man,[cf]
and do not choose any of his ways;
32 for one who goes astray[cg] is an abomination[ch] to the Lord,
but he reveals[ci] his intimate counsel[cj] to the upright.
33 The Lord’s curse[ck] is on the household[cl] of the wicked,[cm]
but he blesses[cn] the home[co] of the righteous.[cp]
34 With[cq] arrogant scoffers[cr] he is scornful,
yet he shows favor to the humble.[cs]
35 The wise inherit honor,
but he holds fools up to[ct] public contempt.[cu]
Confirmation from the Jerusalem Apostles
2 Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. 2 I went there[a] because of[b] a revelation and presented[c] to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so[d] only in a private meeting with the influential people,[e] to make sure that I was not running—or had not run[f]—in vain. 3 Yet[g] not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. 4 Now this matter arose[h] because of the false brothers with false pretenses[i] who slipped in unnoticed to spy on[j] our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.[k] 5 But[l] we did not surrender to them[m] even for a moment,[n] in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.[o]
6 But from those who were influential[p] (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people[q])—those influential leaders[r] added[s] nothing to my message.[t] 7 On the contrary, when they saw[u] that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised[v] just as Peter was entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised[w] 8 (for he who empowered[x] Peter for his apostleship[y] to the circumcised[z] also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)[aa] 9 and when James, Cephas,[ab] and John, who had a reputation as[ac] pillars,[ad] recognized[ae] the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me[af] the right hand of fellowship, agreeing[ag] that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.[ah] 10 They requested[ai] only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.
Paul Rebukes Peter
11 But when Cephas[aj] came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.[ak] 12 Until[al] certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this[am] and separated himself[an] because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.[ao] 13 And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them[ap] by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force[aq] the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
The Justification of Jews and Gentiles
15 We are Jews by birth[ar] and not Gentile sinners,[as] 16 yet we know[at] that no one[au] is justified by the works of the law[av] but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.[aw] And[ax] we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ[ay] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one[az] will be justified. 17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages[ba] sin? Absolutely not! 18 But if I build up again those things I once destroyed,[bb] I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law.[bc] 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ,[bd] and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So[be] the life I now live in the body,[bf] I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God,[bg] who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside[bh] God’s grace, because if righteousness[bi] could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing![bj]
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